Author Question: Which statement made by a 15-year-old adolescent with a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis (an autosomal ... (Read 45 times)

mia · **on:** Jun 27, 2018

Which statement made by a 15-year-old adolescent with a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis (an autosomal dominant genetic disorder) best demonstrates an understanding of the mechanism of inheritance for the disease?

a. My babies will probably not have neurofi-bromatosis..
b. My babies have a 50 chance of having neurofibromatosis..
c. Whether my babies have problems depends on the father..
d. My babies have a 25 chance of having neurofibromatosis..

Question 2

Which child is most likely to be frightened by hospitalization?

a. A 4-month-old infant admitted with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis
b. A 2-year-old toddler admitted for cystic fibrosis
c. A 9-year-old child hospitalized with a frac-tured femur
d. A 15-year-old adolescent admitted for abdominal pain

CharlieArnold · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
Neurofibromatosis is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that occurs when the abnormal gene is carried on the affected chromosome with a normal gene. Because the abnormal gene is dominant, an individual with the defective gene has a 50 chance of transmitting the defect to an infant with each pregnancy. Neurofibromatosis is not a sex-linked genetic disease; therefore, either the father or the mother genetically transfers it to the infant. A parent with the defective gene will genetically transfer either a normal or abnormal gene to an infant. Because the defective gene is dominant, there is a 50 probability of the child inheriting the disease.

Answer to Question 2

B
Toddlers are most likely to be frightened by hospitalization because their thought processes are egocentric, magical, and illogical. They feel very threatened by unfamiliar people and strange environments. Young infants are not as likely to be frightened as toddlers by hospitalization because they are not as aware of the environment. The 9-year-old child's cognitive ability is sufficient enough for the child to understand the reason for the hospitalization. The 15-year-old adolescent has the cognitive ability to interpret the reason for the hospitalization.